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Chelsea: Three key clashes as Blues look for rebound against Wolves

By Travis Tyler

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on July 26, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea in action during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on July 26, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s English defender Ben Chilwell runs on the pitch during the English League Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Barnsley at Stamford Bridge in London on September 23, 2020. (Photo by Alastair Grant / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ALASTAIR GRANT/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s English defender Ben Chilwell runs on the pitch during the English League Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Barnsley at Stamford Bridge in London on September 23, 2020. (Photo by Alastair Grant / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ALASTAIR GRANT/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. All eyes on Adama Traore

If one is looking for an actual player battle, they need look no further than Adama Traore versus the Chelsea left. Wolverhampton is not a one player team. They are very much a sum of their parts. That being said, if one player were to standout right now it would be Traore.

Traore came from the Barcelona academy, seemingly not making the grade because he is too cool to pass the ball 1000 times before moving it forward. Since joining Wolves, Traore has been one of if not the best dribblers in the Premier League. He simply breezes by opponents before setting up teammates. That is why he has found life as a wing back in Old Gold as well as a winger again most recently.

Assuming few changes, he will be one on one against Ben Chilwell with Mason Mount and Timo Werner also likely to feature on that side. As far as defense goes, that is probably Chelsea’s most press heavy side which can be an advantage and a disadvantage against a superb dribbler. The press could force him into areas he can’t do much in or it could be bypassed leaving Traore in an even better position. The alternative is to simply contain but that just offers a static target to dribble by.

If the Blues can lock Traore down, they will have locked down one of Wolves’ biggest threats. They have others, of course, but Traore will be one of the tips of the spear and nullifying him goes a long way towards dulling the edge of the Wolves.

Next. Chelsea predicted XI vs Wolves: 4-3-3 with no room for Kai Havertz. dark

What key clashes do you think will determine this one? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

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